Smartphones Dial Up Asian Trade

By

Aaron Back

Oct. 19, 2012 5:40 a.m. ET

What did we do before smartphones?

The boom in smartphones and tablets is leading a tentative turnaround in some of Asia's export-dependent economies. Component producers in Taiwan and South Korea are benefitting from the ramp-up in production of iPhones and Samsung Galaxies.

September exports for Taiwan and South Korea both beat expectations on surging sales of electronic components. In South Korea, exports of...